BSR Sports Department Super Bowl LII Picks

Super Bowl Sunday has arrived again, This year’s edition pits the AFC Champion New England Patriots against the NFC Champion Philadelphia Eagles. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. from U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Once again the BSR Sports Staff is here to provide their picks and analysis for what promises to be a great game.

Sports Director Rob DiFranco – Patriots 20, Eagles 14

Last year’s Super Bowl may have been the best of all time. It certainly was my favorite I’ve ever watched. I took the Patriots last year in what was most definitely a homer pick. The Patriots come into this game as the overwhelming favorites in the eyes of the casual fan. But, as a Patriots fan, I know what it takes to beat this team in the Super Bowl, Pressure on Tom Brady and Luck, lots of Luck. The Eagles certainly appear to have the ability to get pressure on Brady, as they have what may be the deepest stable of pass rushers in the NFL. They certainly have luck on their side as well, having made an improbable run to the Super Bowl without their franchise QB Carson Wentz. The Patriots will have a tough time with this Eagles team tonight. But, in the end, I can’t pick against the greatest Quarterback to ever play the game, Tom Brady.

Programming Director Ryan Landolph – Eagles 24, Patriots 23

The Patriots go as Tom Brady goes, and one of the few ways to slow him down is to get pressure on him. The Eagles have a great defensive line anchored by Brandon Graham on the outside and Fletcher Cox on the inside. These two, along with the rest of the front four, should be able to get to Brady early and often. Offensively for Philly, Nick Foles has to take care of the football. The Eagles could look to junk up the game, giving both Jay Ajayi and LeGarrette Blount a ton of carries to maintain time of possession. Philly has been an underdog all postseason, but that hasn’t slowed them down. Fly Eagles Fly.

Ryan Jones – Eagles 27, Patriots 24

Tom Brady and the Patriots’ offense take over the game early thanks to their Super Bowl experience. However, after Justin Timberlake’s above average halftime show the Eagles begin to get to Brady. Nick Foles calms down and Jay Ajayi becomes more of a passing game weapon. The Eagles come back and win the game on a field goal by Super Bowl MVP Jake Elliott. Also, this is Brady’s last Super Bowl appearance. The Eagles become the next football dynasty under Carson Wentz, and Nick Foles is still a bird next season, not as an Eagle, but an Arizona Cardinal.

Remy Johnson – Patriots 30, Eagles 23

I expect this to be a good game as there is a fair amount of talent on both sides of the ball. I’ve picked against the Eagles when they played Atlanta and Minnesota. I’m doing it again. The Patriots are the best team in the NFL in terms of making the necessary adjustments to win a game. The Eagles will put up a fight but in the end, Brady and his boys will achieve the dream of going back-to-back. You can read Remy’s complete preview of Super Bowl LII here.

Brandon Lewis – Eagles 31, Patriots 24

Tom Brady is going for his sixth Super Bowl ring on Sunday, an unprecedented accomplishment if he can pull it off. On the other sideline is Nick Foles who is making just his fourth playoff start for the Eagles. Outside of the QB position, the Eagles have the better all-around team in almost every way and to win a Super Bowl you need to execute in all three phases of the game. The Patriots are the big dogs of the NFL and have been for years, and the Eagles are undoubtedly the underdogs in this matchup. The players know how much it would mean to bring a title to a city that has never seen a Super Bowl championship, they do not want to disappoint the fans in Philly with another heartbreaking loss. They’ll pull it off, in what could be a Super Bowl for the ages.

Mitch Spinell – Patriots 28, Eagles 21

Philadelphia is running on adrenaline at this point; getting past Atlanta and Minnesota was a surprise to almost every fan watching those games. I’m sure that the Eagles can ride that wave into this game. But you can’t bet against Brady and Belichick, even if you despise them. Just ask the Falcons and Jaguars.